The EU Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, is unlikely to be renominated by the Government for a third term on the Commission, according to senior Fianna Fail sources.
Mr Flynn is "extremely doubtful" to be put forward by the Government this year, when Ireland is required to nominate its representative for the new commission which meets for the first time in January 2000, the sources said. "He has had his run," one added.
Party sources yesterday expressed grave misgivings at Mr Flynn's performance on last Friday's Late Late Show, particularly when questioned about an allegation by the UK-based property developer, Mr Tom Gilmartin, that he made a payment of £50,000 to Mr Flynn in the late 1980s.
Mr Flynn, who was at home in Co Mayo yesterday, could not be reached for comment. A Government spokesman said last night the Taoiseach had given "no thought" to the question of nominating Ireland's next commissioner. Mr Ahern would not deal with it until the summer, after the European elections in June, he said.
One of the problems facing the Taoiseach is the fact that Mr Flynn has no obvious successor. In addition, the Government's minority position in the Dail would make it extremely difficult to nominate a sitting TD.
Mr Flynn has been Commissioner since 1993, when he was nominated by the then Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds. His second term was ratified by the rainbow coalition in 1995.
Mr Gilmartin, the UK-based Irish property developer who was the subject of Mr Flynn's remarks, last night called on Mr Flynn to resign as EU Commissioner, adding that the remarks were scurrilous, distressing and inaccurate.
Mr Gilmartin said Mr Flynn had contacted him repeatedly after media reports of his allegation about the payment surfaced last September. Mr Flynn was very upset and concerned about the damage the allegation would do to his chances of being renominated, Mr Gilmartin claimed.
The controversy comes as the tribunal's other main witness, 81year-old Mr James Gogarty, prepares to give evidence this morning on his allegations about payments to the former minister for foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke.
Over the next few days Mr Gogarty is expected to give evidence concerning his allegation that Mr Burke received £80,000 from two builders at a meeting in his home in 1989. Mr Burke says he received £30,000.
Asked by Gay Byrne on last Friday's Late Late Show whether he had met Mr Gilmartin, Mr Flynn confirmed he had. He continued: "He's not well. His wife isn't well. And he's out of sorts."
At the end of the programme, after Mr Flynn had left the studio, Mr Byrne read out a retraction. "In the interview it was suggested by Pee Flynn that Tom Gilmartin was sick. As far as Pee is concerned Tom Gilmartin is not sick and has never been seriously sick and we would just like to say sorry and apologise for that," he said.
According to Late Late Show sources, the apology was not initiated by Mr Flynn. A woman rang saying she was Mr Gilmartin's sister, and insisted the EU Commissioner's remarks were factually incorrect. The producers contacted his daughter, Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn, in Castlebar. She made contact with Mr Flynn, who agreed to the apology.
As a result of Mr Flynn's comments, Mr Gilmartin said he was reconsidering his decision not to co-operate with the planning tribunal.
He said he and his family had been the subject of threats and intimidation in recent months, but declined to give details. These would emerge in time at the tribunal, he said.
Mr Gilmartin said that tribunal lawyers last year threatened to take legal proceedings against him in the UK to compel his appearance before the tribunal. It therefore appears almost certain that Mr Gilmartin will be called to give evidence later this year.
Asked on the programme about Mr Gilmartin's allegation, Mr Flynn said: "I never asked or took money from anybody to do favours for anybody in my life."
Mr Byrne later asked: "But you're saying you never took money from anybody at any time for any reason".
Mr Flynn replied: "I never took money from anyone to do a political favour for anyone as far as planning is concerned."